Mikel Arteta can answer his biggest Arsenal critics against Bayern Munich amid new scrutiny

Inevitably as the full-time whistle blew and Aston Villa completed another smash-and-grab against a wasteful Arsenal side, the critics emerged from the crevices they'd been hammered into throughout a near-flawless 2024 league run. Prior to Unai Emery's win, Arsenal had dropped points in just one domestic game this calendar year, away at Manchester City with a clean sheet which broke the 57-game run that the treble winners had managed to score in.

Arsenal might indeed be held to different standards but even those for some seem rather unrealistic. Yet the club and Arteta in particular do indeed have a great chance to respond to the weekend's defeat and deal a blow to both the critics and their old European rivals, Bayern Munich.

Arteta is responsible for the club rising to a position where they have not just been favourites to beat Bayern Munich in a home leg, but become second-favourites for the entire competition. Bearing in mind the previous three times Arsenal had faced them they had been on the wrong end of a 5-1 scoreline. To many, being eliminated by Bayern would now be seen as an underachievement this year.

Arteta knows the value a win on Wednesday night can bring to the side. A response against a club who are of a higher level than any of their remaining Premier League opponents this season should rebuild confidence in his side.

It might quieten down the fair-weather fans too as YouTube comments sections, X feeds and live chat boxes are ridded with, at least for a time, until the next time the Gunners experience a result other than a comfortable victory. Arteta will argue that these critics bear no focus on his or his team but the reality is that it is certainly seen, to some degree.

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